Cattle-guard.



L. L. TAPP.

CATTLE GUARD.

AP`PLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1915. 1,155,968.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Yatented Oct. 5, 1915.

L. L. TAPP.

CATTLE GUARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24. I9I5.

1,155,968. Patented 00L. 5, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

L. L. TAPP.

CATTLE GUARD.

^ ALPLICATIN FILED MAY24, 1915.

l Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

3 SHEETS-,SHEET 3.

LACY LOUIS TAP?, OF ELKTON, KFJRTEUCKY.

CATTLE-GUARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten 0013.5, i915.

Application lcd May 24, 1915. Serial No. 30,220.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that l, LACY L. TAP?, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elkton, in the county of Todd and State of Kentucky, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cattle-Guards, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to cattle guards for use adjacent railway tracks, the same being in a position adjacent the track where it automatically assumes a position above the track to prevent animals from traveling along the track pastthe gate, but which will also be automatically operated by a passing train to swing the gates to the opposite sides of the track.

A further object of the invention is generally to improve this class `of devices so as to increase their utility, Vdurability and efficiency.

Vith the above and other objects in view, the improvement resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification and fallf ing within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 isa perspective View of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention, thev gates being shown in their normal closed position across a railway track, Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating the gates in their open position to permit of the passa-ge of a train therebetween, Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the rail contact member., Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the turning shaft, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating theY l the rails-2 are blocks 3, the same having their inner faces preferably shaped toy be received within the fishing spaces of the rail, and the same beingY also provided with angular extensions through which pass the securing spikes 4. Pivoted to each of the blocks 3 is a longitudinally extending contact member 5. The members upon each of the outer sides of the rails have their free ends disposed toward each other, and each of the contact members 5 is constructed from a substantially rectangular piece of suitable metal, the-pivotal end of which being reduced, but each of said members has its upper face gradually inclined upwardly to its free end, so that a portion of the contact member will at all'times be normally sustained above the tread of the rails in a manner which will be presently set forth. Each of the members 5 has upon its outer face and at its lower edge a lateral extension or enlargement 7, each ofthe said portions 7 being provided withk a longitudinally extending cross sectionally round lug 8.

Arranged to the outer side of each of the rails 2' between each pair of members 5 is la longitudinally extending shaft 9, eachof said shafts having its opposite ends pro- Vvided with right angular offset portions 10, and each o-f the said portions is provided with an opening forming a bearing for the longitudinally extending lugs 8 of each pair of contact members 5. The shaft 9 is jour naled in bearings provided by brackets 11 which are secured to certain of the ties 1 as well as to the outer sides of the rails, and each shaft 9 is approximately centrally formed with an enlarged portion 12 provided with a pair of spaced ears 13-13, thel ears being disposed at a right angle to the angular ends o-r members 10 of each Aof the shafts. Passing through each pair of ears upon'e-ach of the shafts 9 is a pivot member 14, and arranged upon the said pivot is a plurality of arms 15-15. One of the arms, preferably the central arm which, fory distinction, is indicatedby the numeral 16,

is rigidly secured to the pivot 13, as indi# cated by the numeral 17, and the said pivot 14 is also ixedly secured within'its bearings in the ears 13-13. Flexible elements 18 connect the arms 15 with each other and with the arm 16,.so that when the mem-V bers are spread they will. radiate from the pivot 14 while the flexible members 18 secured to the rigid a'rmslG as well asto the movable arm will limit theswinging movement of the said arms. The arm 16 is normally sustained approximately vertical when the gate is closed so that the members comprising the gate will swing or tilt both across the track and toward the fence 20.

It is to be noted that when a train moving upon the track toward the gate from either direction, one of the contact members 5 wili be engaged by the tread of the wheels and depressed, thus rotating the shafts 9 in opposite directions bringing the ears at an outward angle withrelation to the track. The arm 16 having moved beyond its vertical position will, through the medium of the iieXible connections 18 throw the arms arranged over the track toward the ends of the fence 2O which, as shown in the drawings, is arranged at the opposite sides of the gate and which divides two fields or pastures. It will be also noted that one of the wheels of the rolling stock is constantly in engagement with one of the contact members 5 until after the train has entirely passed the gate, so the weighted throw means cannot operate until the entire train has passed the outer throw members. To return the gate to its normal closed position, 1 have arranged upon each of the shafts 9 a finger 21 disposed at a right angle to the ears 13, and 1 have arranged posts or standards 22 adjacent the said fingers. Each of the posts is provided with a pivoted member 23 having its outer end provided with a weight 24: and its inner end provided with a flexible member 25 which is secured to the finger 21. The weight will, of course, automatically swing the member or beam 23 and the same will, through the medium of a iiexible member 25, again swing the shaft 9 so as to bring each of the gates to its closing position across the track.

1f desired the shafts 9, to the opposite sides of the ears 13 may be provided with arms 26, the same being arranged parallel with the ears 13, and each of said arms 26 is provided with a flexible member 27 which connects with the end arm or bar 15 of the gate, this means adding to the strength and rigidity of the gate structure.

F rom the above description, taken in conw nection with the accompanying drawings, the simplicity of the device, as well as the advantages thereof will, it is thought, be perfectly apparent to those skilled in the art to which such invention appertains without further detailed description.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

l. 1n a cattle guard for railway rails, substantially rectangular contact members arranged in pairs to the opposite sides of the rails, blocks connected with the rails and receiving pivots at the outer end of each of the contacts, each of said contacts having its outer face at its inner end formed with an enlargement provided with a longitudinally extending lug, a shaft journaled in bearings arranged between each pair of contact members, each of said shafts having angular ends providing bearings for the lugs of the contact members, a post central of each of the shafts, a member centrally pivoted to the post, a weight upon the outer end of the said member, a connection between the said member and each of the shafts, ears arran oed at a right angle to the angular ends o b b 3 of the shafts and disposed centrally of each of the shafts, a swinging gate comprising a pluraiity of arms pivotally secured between the ears, one of said arms being connected with the pivot, and a flexible connection between the last mentioned arm and the remaining arms of the gate.

2. In a cattle guard for railway rails, substantially rectangular contact members arranged in pairs to the opposite sides of the rails, blocks connected with the rails and receiving pivots at the outer end of each of the contacts, each of said contacts having its outer face at its inner end formed with an enlargement provided with a longitudinally extending lug, a shaft ournaled in bearings arranged between each pair of contact members, each of said shafts having angular ends providing bearings for the lugs of the contact members, a post central of each of the shafts, a member centrally pivoted to the post, a weight upon the outer end of the said member, a connection between the said member and each of the shafts, ears arranged at a right angle to the angular ends of the shafts and disposed centrally of each of the shafts, a swinging gate comprising a plurality of arms pivotally secured between the ears, one of said arms being connected with the pivot, and a fieXible connection between the last mentioned arm and the remaining arms of the gate, arms arranged in a line with the ears to the opposite sides of the said ears, a iexible connection between the last mentioned arms and the end arms of the gate.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LACY LOUIS TAPP. Vitnesses:

J. M. `WEA'rHnns, R. W. VVnATI-mns.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

